Palestinian Authority arrest raid sparks W. Bank clashes
A rare operation by the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces to arrest a Hamas member sparked clashes in the West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday, killing one.
A statement from the security forces confirmed the death of Firas Yaish and said they were “waiting for a medical report,” on the circumstances of his killing.
He was killed “in a place where no security personnel were present,” forces spokesman Talal Dweikat said in a statement.
Unrest persisted through the morning, with hundreds of youths hurling rocks at PA armoured vehicles and the sound of gunfire ringing out across the city centre, AFP correspondents reported.
Hamas, rivals of the secular Fatah movement that controls the PA, condemned the arrest of 30-year-old Musaab Shtayyeh, calling it a “kidnapping... a national crime” and a “stain” on the PA’S image.
It demanded the immediate release of Shtayyeh and Ameed Tbaileh, who was arrested with him, and blasted the PA for keeping up security co-ordination with Israel.
Unrest persisted with hundreds of youths hurling rocks at PA armour ed vehicles and the sound of gunfire ringing out acrossthe city centre, correspondents reported
“The authority has positioned itself as an exclusive agent of the occupation (Israel) in the face of our Palestinian people,” the statement said.
While Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas’s forces maintain security ties with Israel, which has occupied the West Bank since 1967, PA raids targeting Hamas members are not common.
Fatah and Hamas have made various reconciliation atempts in recent years but relations remain tense.
Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007, when it ousted PA forces from the coastal enclave in deadly street batles.
The northern West Bank has suffered near daily violence in recent months.
Israel has conducted dozens of night-time raids in the area, particularly in Jenin, pursuing wanted individuals.
Dozens of Palestinians, including fighters, have been killed in the raids that began ater a series of deadly atacks against Israeli targets in March.
Israel has put mounting pressure on the PA to crack down on alleged militants in the West Bank.
Last week, ater two Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed in clashes near Jenin, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said he would “not hesitate to act in any place that the Palestinian Authority does not maintain order.”
Earlier this month, Israeli armed forces chief Lieutenant General Aviv Kohavi said the “helplessness of the Palestinian Authority security forces” was providing fertile ground for the armed groups.
Violence in the West Bank has surged in recent months ater Israel stepped up raids into the territory following a spate of deadly Palestinian street atacks in Israel.
PA leaders have said the Israeli incursions weaken its rule, while Israel says it must operate there in order to prevent more atacks and has demanded the PA crack down on militants.
Us-sponsored Palestinian statehood talks with Israel collapsed in 2014.
Since then, the domestic credibility of the PA has waned, while Hamas leaders regularly calling on militants in the West Bank to step up atacks on Israel.
The Palestinian Authority has limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Hamas rules Gaza, which it seized from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah in a brief 2007 civil war.
“The Palestinian Authority has positioned itself as an exclusive agent of the (Israeli) occupation against our Palestinian people,” Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said.
The PA has not commented on the latest violence. It has previously rejected such allegations and in turn accuses Hamas of trying to incite the public against it to weaken it.
The United States has pushed both sides to restore quiet.
But the Biden administration has failed to present a diplomatic plan, focusing instead on small measures to improve the Palestinian economy.
Palestinian officials refused to comment on Tuesday’s operation. But two Hamas members were arrested in the raid, according to the men’s families.